August 15, 2016

Cash Value. A century ago the American psychologist and philosopher William James said that even religious ideas need some practical importance or cash value. In our economically driven society, everything is evaluated by its cash value. Time is money, Beanie Babies are worth whatever someone will pay for them, and people are evaluated according to the money they earn. In a consumer society like ours, everything and everyone eventually becomes a consumer product which is evaluated by its cash value.

July 21, 2014

Editor's Note: As we begin a new catechetical year, let's take time to reflect and explore with one another the many dimensions of creating an environment in which each of us can experience "the best of being Catholic."

What does it mean to be Catholic? There are probably as many answers to that question as there are Catholics. My own fascination with the identity question began, like most fascinations, in autobiography. I was educated by French nuns in a private girls’ school. Academics were rigorous and there wasn’t much free time in the daily routine.

Except for one miraculous loophole that had escaped the sharp gaze of Reverend Mother: the chapel visit. During the last study hall of the day, we could visit the chapel. That meant waving a small square of black lace veil at the presiding sister, getting her nod, then escaping, unsupervised and independent, for the long walk down a hall filled with swooshing ferns and lined with huge windows. The gleaming wood floors made a fitting approach to the transcendent. There, a thoughtful person could transition from academic drudgery to sacred space.

While in Part I we reviewed the importance of becoming persons of prayer as catechists, in Part II we will see how to better align our prayer with the Liturgy of the Church and list some resources found to be helpful for doing so.

When we pray or prepare our prayer for sessions, we need to do our best to bring our prayer into alignment with the liturgy of the Church. When I originally began learning this practice, I did so to help me prepare catechetical sessions. Now aligning my prayer with the liturgy of the church is now part of my daily routine. Each morning I prayerfully read or listen to the readings of the days liturgy. There are a number of sites that help with this:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings gives the readings for the liturgy of the day. One can also subscribe to a podcast of the daily readings. I often listen to them as I quietly prepare coffee and breakfast in the morning.

Teaching others how to pray with Christ is one of the Six Tasks of Catechesis (NDC no. 20). The text describing this task needs to be returned to and read often:

Conversion to Christ and communion with him lead the faithful to adopt his disposition of prayer and reflection. Jesus’ entire life, death, and Resurrection were an offering to his Father. His prayer was always directed toward his Father. Catechesis should invite the believer to join Christ in the Our Father. Prayer should be the ordinary environment for all catechesis so that the knowledge and practice of the Christian life may be understood and celebrated in its proper context.

Conversion to Christ and communion with him: If there is one thing I have learned over and over again, it is that one can’t only teach about prayer but has to become a model of prayer. I believe that being a person of prayer is essential to being a catechist and to being a disciple.

Jesus’ entire life, death, and Resurrection were an offering to his Father. Our entire life and our work as catechists should be an offering to the Father. All our catechetical efforts should begin and end with prayer – from the very planning of our sessions through to its implementation. It helps to bring participants, their families, and all the situations that they may share with us to our prayer. We also ought to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we might become more like Christ in our planning and in every stage of our catechetical sessions.

If you’re like me, one of the things that keeps you in love
with Catholicism is its richness and depth. Spanning from theology to history
to literature to fine arts, there is so much to explore that one could spend
their whole life plumbing its depths and never be done.

So it’s natural that when we’re teaching we might want to
take a more-is-better approach. With so much for our students to learn,
shouldn’t we fit in as much as we can during the time we have together?

In short, no.

It is important to ensure that each lesson period have one
distinct focus. Think of it this way: when your students’ parents ask them at
the dinner table what they learned in religious education that day, will they
be able to articulate a clear theme of the session?

Doubtless you have a full “toolbox” of activities and
resources that you use during your classes. These may include games, Scripture
passages, parables, and crafts. While planning each session, as you’re reaching
into your toolbox, think about whether what you are about to include will help
you maintain that one focus.

You might be lucky enough to have strong textbooks and
teacher guides to help you with your planning. As you’re preparing with those
resources, put your plans to the same test: can you identify the thread that is
holding each unit and lesson together? Will you be able to say to your students
“Today we are learning about forgiveness” rather than “Today we are learning
about chapter 3?”

Clarity is important to all learners, but especially to
young learners. Maintaining a focus in your lessons will help your students to
fully grasp discrete themes one at a time. Even though we might be tempted to
offer them the whole richness of the faith right away, doing too many things at
once is a recipe for confusion.

When we present the essentials
we accomplish more than when we try to squeeze in more than we need. The
seeds that you plant will hopefully blossom into lifelong curiosity about the
faith, so that your students will keep learning long after you’ve played your
part.

September 11, 2013

I want to offer a very special "Thank You" to Bishop Dale Melczek for this this very thoughtful and inspiring reflection for the the readers and members of www.eCatechist.com. As we Celebrate Catechetical Sunday, September 15, 2013, please feel free to share with your catechists and encourage them to subscribe to www.eCatechist.com.

Dan Pierson, founder

At the closing
Mass of World Youth Day, Pope Francis challenged the more than three million
young people and their chaperones to "Go and make disciples of all
nations." He urged them to share the good news of their relationship with
Jesus and His Gospel with everyone. He challenged them to bring Jesus
everywhere and into every area of their life.

Jesus charged all
of us to share His very person and the meaning of His actions and words with
others. Who has taken this challenge more seriously than our catechists? I am
confident that even as you seek to make our faith living, conscious, and active
in those you catechize, your experience of Jesus, the Father, and the Holy
Spirit becomes an even greater source of comfort and joy for you.

I pray that the
Year of Faith has been a time of special grace for you and those whose lives
you touch. You may recall that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI articulated two
purposes for this year of grace. Both purposes speak to the aim of catechesis.

First, Pope Emeritus Benedict wished for this Year of Faith to help us grow
into a deeper and more mature communion and intimacy with Jesus and through
Him, with the Holy Spirit and the Father.

Secondly, he invited us to use this
time to come to a richer understanding of what it is we profess when we recite
the Creed together at Mass every Sunday.

September 02, 2013

Editor's Note: This is a beautiful recognition of the vocation of the catechist and a tribute to the generosity and contribututions that catechists continue to offer children, youth, adults, and families throughout the world. Let's us give thanks and pray for one another. - Dan Pierson

I am a conference junkie. Because I’ve given talks at various parish, diocesan and national events for the last twelve years, people often ask, “so what do you see, traveling around the country?” It’s probably a skewed perspective, flying in on Friday night, speaking most of Saturday, then returning to the airport Sunday. Sometimes a longer retreat or workshop gives the chance to know people at a deeper level and communicate over a longer period of time. That kind of experience makes it harder to say goodbye, but is the exception, not the rule.

So much travel: what does it teach? Given the breadth of the action in a truly catholic culture—from Asians in Seattle to Cubans in Miami, from Filippinos in Las Vegas to Latinos in Lubbock, any sweeping generalization sounds suspect. With that caveat comes a firmly optimistic read. For the most part, catechetical activity isn’t generating headlines, but it speaks loud and clear of a robust faith community. In the old cliché, reports of the church’s demise, at least in this arena, are exaggerated.

Come along for an imaginative tour of conferences around the country. Most events, whether in Milwaukee or Monterey, tend to be as similar as the Gap stores at the local mall. The folding chairs for a keynote in the elementary or high school gym, the breakouts in classrooms, are sometime upgraded to hotels or convention centers.

April 28, 2013

In the Kingdom of God, words are not the primary form of expression. Kingdom dwellers are more at home with a language of mystery. Let’s take a quick look at the elements of this language.

Sign and Symbol

In the Kingdom of God, a type of sign language is spoken. Think about how Moses was drawn to encounter God—not through a wordy invitation but through the sign of a burning bush. Signs and symbols speak directly to the heart through the imagination. They invite rather than command and inspire rather than explain.

Ritual

In the Kingdom of God, rituals abound. They connect us with meaningful events in our past, they ground us in the present, and they lead us confidently into the future. Rituals awaken a deeper level of consciousness within us.

Movement and Gesture

Tai chi is an ancient practice that promotes serenity through controlled movements that connect body, mind, and spirit; what happens to one affects the other. This is true in the Kingdom of God, too; when we use our bodies for prayerful movement and gesture, the mind hears, and the heart responds.

Silence

In the Kingdom of God, the primary form of expression is silence. Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk, tells us that “Silence is God’s first language; everything else is a poor translation. In order to hear that language, we must learn to be still and to rest in God” (Invitation to Love).

Song

The Kingdom of God is a place where the music never stops. Few things can touch our hearts and transport our minds better than music and song. “O sing to the Lord a new song,” the psalmist urges us (96:1). Lucky for us, God loves music, and he loves to hear us sing.

Story and Myth

Author John Shea tells us that “story is the most interesting and compelling of language forms” and that “storytelling raises us out of the randomness of the moment and inserts us into a larger framework” (Stories of Faith). That larger framework is the Kingdom of God, and we all have a part to play in it.

If things were simply as they appeared, we would have no need for catechesis. However, life’s ultimate meaning is veiled and mysterious. As such, we catechize others to incorporate these various elements of the language of mystery into their souls’ daily diet.

Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press. His most recent book is Beyond the Catechist's Toolbox: Catechesis That Not Only Informs But Also Transforms (Loyola Press). Joe blogs about his experience as a catechist at www.catechistsjourney.com<http://www.catechistsjourney.com>.

March 11, 2013

I think life is pointless if you don't strive for greater things. It's what propels civilisation forward. During Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebration back in 2000 one of their theme songs was "We Go On" which celebrates the dreams of tomorrow "built on all that we have done." The spiritual life (which hopefully informs our everyday life) also builds upon what we've learnt and experienced yesterday.

Ignatian spirituality has this very foundation built right into it. It's called magis, which is the Latin word for "more". It comes from two places. First is the Latin phrase ad majorem Dei gloriam, which means "for the greater glory of God". This phrase is a big part of the Jesuit charism and it inspires us to bring greater glory to God through all that we do. The second inspiration of magis is from the first meditation in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, which is on our sin. After a retreatant reflects on her sin and its effects Ignatius says she should contemplate the following:

"... looking at myself, [I consider] what I have done for Christ, what I am doing for Christ, what I ought to do for Christ." — Spiritual Exercises [53]

October 30, 2012

What words of wisdom can you share with a new and/or
seasoned catechist?” This is a tough question, and on any given day I wasn’t
sure how I would answer. However, I have thought about this question for some
time now basically because I am a Missionary Catechist, a member of a religious
congregation that is dedicated to catechesis. I, too, continue to be challenged
by the message we bring to others, a message engraved deep in our hearts. Furthermore, it is a message we must be
willing to bring to whomever we meet with a spirit of enthusiasm and wonder.

First, I would remind catechists that each
year we serve as catechist is special because we receive opportunities to share
our memories, our stories, and our dreams that speak of being nourished by the
Holy Scriptures and the Eucharist as we come to the table as brothers and
sisters in the one body of Christ.

Secondly, I would advise catechists to express gratitude and
generosity to all those we meet. Share
with your students and others the gratitude you have for being a catechist in
today’s contemporary world. In
addition, express your commitment by the examples you share with your students. Do not be afraid to be open. Your heart is strong enough to share
the message you are called to share with sincerity and confidence in God’s
Providence.

Finally, my advice to catechists is to
“stay motivated” by allowing time for yourself time to sit, wonder, think,
pray, discern and reflect on the
message you hear and on how you wish to share it with others. Preparation of any message that we are
scheduled to teach compels us to spend time in silence and prayer. Pray daily that you receive new ideas
on how to share the message of Jesus.

In the parish where I minister and have
been a DRE for a total of three months, I tell the catechists and their helpers
that they are wonderful witnesses
of constant giving and generosity.
By their presence and their commitment to “show-up” and “step up,” they
meet the challenge to teach what they know to be true in their lives.

Sister Mary Lou Barba, MCDP is the DRE for Pre-K to 5th
grade at Emmaus Catholic Parish in Lakeway, TX. She has been a Diocesan DRE and most recently finish her
term as Major Superior in her congregation.

April 21, 2012

What serves as my own model for catechesis is the encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well of Samaria (John 4:1-42). I see their developing conversation as a guide for how to invite others into a deeper awareness and relationship with God.

Take time to be alone

In the Gospel, Jesus has come to the well in Samaria alone. When he arrives, he finds the woman of Samaria unaccompanied. It is precisely during this solitary time together that a dialogue begins. This is good advice for us catechists as well. Take sabbath moments to find yourself available to God.

Meet people on their own terms

Jesus understood and relayed back to the woman her sordid story but did not judge her. He accepted her situation and used it as the basis to build her up and challenge her growth. As catechists, we too ought to encourage others to find the sacred in the midst of the imperfections in their lives.

Be who you are called to be

Jesus was not afraid to be clear about who he was - he states he is the Messiah. It is good for us to remember who we are - children of God. We are endowed with unique abilities to help build up the Kingdom. Have courage to use them!

Make the Word your own

Jesus’ dialogue with the woman so energized her that she ran to tell others about it. She found her own voice and began to live what she heard. As catechists, our own life experiences are often the most compelling for others to hear. Share your stories!

Let it go

After the encounter with Jesus, the woman left her water jar behind. So often in ministry, plans do not go as we anticipate. We need to be attentive to changes that happen in unexpected ways. With this in mind, be flexible and remember you are not in control!

For Reflection

On your journey of catechist, go out to the well. In your alone time, think about what you will discuss with Jesus. What advice does he give you about leading others closer to Him?

December 20, 2011

One of the gifts catechists can share with those they guide is a sense of spiritual presence. However, for them to be able to do this they must—as in the calling of the Gospel— be countercultural. In doing this, the gift given to those guided turns out to be a gift to themselves as well.

For instance, as those called to guide others in faith, catechists are not called to be successful but to be faithful. This means there is a need to focus on being the best they can be professionally and personally but has nothing to do with achieving a certain goal—even if it be a good one.

Moreover, if they are able to have such a sense of presence as an outgrowth of their prayer life, then they will find themselves getting less discouraged when the outcomes are not as they hoped. Catechists will then realize in their hearts that all they must do is only what they can do and let God and God’s Grace take care of the residue. That is the beauty of the ministry of being a catechist. Isn’t that wonderful and doesn’t it make the calling to be a catechist so rewarding?

Robert J. WicksAuthor, Prayerfulness: Experiencing the Fullness of Life (Sorin Books/Ave Maria Press)Professor, Loyola University Maryland

For the first time, author, speaker, psychologist, and spiritual guide Robert J. Wicks opens a window into his personal life, relating stories of the people and places that have shaped his spiritual perspective. Streams of Contentment was selected as one of the 50 best spiritual books of 2011 by the Spirituality & Practice website.

November 17, 2011

As you are preparing your lesson, ask yourself: What is the most exciting thing that I will learn from this material? Look for one idea that stirs your imagination or gives you new insight into your faith. It could be a favorite scripture passage, a small element of doctrine, or an interactive activity. See if you can make that one idea a "spotlight" moment when you present your lesson. Learners will notice and be inspired by your enthusiasm.

Chris Weber, Director, Mount Summer, Mount St. Mary's University, Emmitsburg, MD, and author of the book @Jesus-Style Recruiting, available through Visual Dynamics: vdpublishing.net

November 03, 2011

Discipline. Doesn't that rank up there on your list of things to worry about—or at least, prepare for? Especially if you're a beginner, what will you do with a group of lively children, the hyper ones, the ultra-shy ones, the attention-getters?

Yes, learning good discipline techniques is a high priority. But I'd like to suggest that there is another aspect to discipline. Your own. You have to be disciplined yourself to teach a successful class.

It takes time and discipline to read the textbook and your teacher's manual, to make notes, to prepare activities for those moments when children have zoned out.

It takes discipline to be fully prepared, to devise strategies that keep children actively involved in every aspect of your lesson. This kind of discipline will often—and usually does—take care of those other discipline issues.

October 11, 2011

Fall always brings the feeling of a new year. As an educator, catechist, and lifelong learner, fall is for me a time of new beginnings: parish programs gear up; school begins; the college opens its doors to a new semester; a selection of new learning opportunities beckons me to choose. Every year I call to mind all catechists like you, whose hands, mind, and heart plan and implement these learning experiences.

The excitement of the new beginning brings promise. Record the expectation that the new year brings. Brush off that memo of expectation and read it often to refresh your commitment during the year. Help others see every grin, “aha” moment, minute of reverenced silence, hearty laugh, and articulated insight as God’s grace working within you and those you catechize.

You do your job when paying attention to these signs of wonder working within your learning community. Celebrate these as your successes throughout the year. When things go wrong, and they will, bring it to prayer and let the Spirit work. Open your heart to all the things the Spirit can teach you and take careful consultation with an experienced catechist on what can improve your teaching. Never regret the call to this ministry which is so needed in the Church and the world today. Enjoy the catechetical journey ahead this year. Happy New Year!

Barbara Anne Radtke Director of Continuing Education, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry

September 12, 2011

As Pope Paul VI stated, “modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41).

We live in a time where people will not tolerate a ‘do as I say and not as I do’ attitude about the faith. Children are particularly perceptive in their questioning and they have an innate sense of truth. This becomes particularly evident in their questioning in the classroom!

The best advice that I could give to any catechist is to be a strong witness to the faith and to be open to the children who will guide and inspire you as a catechist on your journey of faith. It is a reciprocal relationship - you will likely learn as much about your faith as a catechist as the children will learn from you. Sometimes the greatest lessons that we can learn come from watching and being like children. Their persistence, trust and fearlessness are lessons that we all can learn from in our faith lives.

As adults we often wear masks to hide how we are truly feeling from the world. We develop calloused hands and hearts as we experience disappointment, loss and regret. Sometimes as adults we forget to thank God for all of the blessings in our life and only become more prayerful when we are on our knees anguished and tortured. The challenge is to regain that sense of reliance and dependence on God when we struggle so much to be “in control” of our lives.

May your journey of faith be child-like but not childish as you reach out to all those who are struggling and hurting. Be like a child in your encouragement of those who need your help, offer a smile, a loving presence, a sense of Christ in your classroom. Reach out with humility, trust and love to all whom you encounter. Blessings on your catechetical year!

Julianne Donlon Stanz is Director of Adult Faith Formation and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Green Bay WI.

March 21, 2011

When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the Lord came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9-10

On the second Sunday of Ordinary Time we hear the delightful story of God calling Samuel. It takes three times for Samuel to answer because, as the scripture tells us, “Samuel was not yet familiar with the Lord” and kept thinking his master Eli was calling him instead.

At first, even Eli didn’t realize what was happening, passing off Samuel’s call as the dreams of a young lad. But as he listened to Samuel repeat his experience, he filtered it through his own faith and was able to help Samuel see God acting in his life, calling him to something greater. Eli identifies God as the caller and tells Samuel he should listen. In doing so, Eli not only teaches Samuel; he mentors him and guides him toward God.

December 10, 2010

Many of us who are catechists are also parents. We often wonder how we can bring up children in the Catholic faith. Chances are that what we want for our children is what the majority of parents want for their children in our catechetical sessions.

As we live each day going from morning to evening, the majority of us are overwhelmed by the “busyness” of our lives as we meet our responsibilities of work, family, parenting, errands, etc. There is little time and energy for sharing faith with children and getting them to the weekly parish religious education program.

Julie Cragon, author of Bless My Child: A Catholic Mother’s Prayer Book, prays that her children will be nourished and fed and led by the light of Christ, his mother, the saints, and the holy men and women given to us as examples. Julie and her husband are parents of six and managers of St. Mary’s Bookstore in Nashville, Tennessee. They believe that praying for our children is one of the most important things we can do for our children.

As catechists, we too can pray for our own children and the children in our weekly classes. Remember each by name, pray that they recognize God’s invitation to be His children and friends.

Therese Borchard, author of I Love Being a Mom and author of Imperfect Mom: Candid Confessions of Mothers Living in the Real World (2006) looks to her parish and the catechists for help in passing on a sense of tradition and continuity with the past. She sees catechists as the bridge of the past with the present, translating the language of faith for children.

In On Catechesis in our Time, John Paul II reminds us “the definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch, but also in communion and intimacy, with Jesus Christ.” To accomplish this mission, we

-promote knowledge of the faith

-provide liturgical education

-offer moral formation

-teach children to pray

-read, teach, and pray scripture

In our weekly lessons, we join the members of the Church – parents, extended family members, Baptism and Confirmation sponsors, grandparents, and the entire parish community in helping these children to grow in friendship and intimacy with Jesus Christ.

November 08, 2010

“After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, ‘Salvation comes from our God.’” Rev 7:9-10a

I stood in front of the room scanning the faces of my 7th grade religious education class. One girl in the front doodled aimlessly. Two boys in the back took turns whispering to each other and breaking into quiet laughter. A few others watched my every move, trying to size me up and determine what they could expect in the coming year. It was my first time serving as a catechist; I felt terrified, vulnerable, and alone.

I took a deep breath and prayed. I invoked St. Anthony (my mother’s favorite saint) to help me find the right words. I offered a plea to Mary, who guided Jesus in his early faith. I asked for support from my deceased grandmother, a kind and wonderful teacher of music. I even prayed to St. Jude, patron of the impossible! I gained courage from knowing I was not truly alone, that the entire company of saints walked with me, offering inspiration, wisdom, and guidance.

The month of November is a particularly appropriate time to recall the countless people of faith who have gone before us and in whose footsteps we walk. We have a rich spiritual heritage, a foundation of holiness and wisdom supporting us in our journey. All of us, living and dead, are connected to God and therefore to each other. We should not be afraid to call upon those who have faithfully responded to God’s call, just as we try to live out our vocation in this world.

Perhaps, too, we should keep the company of the saints in mind as we scan our room full of young people. Who knows what fruit will come of the seeds we plant in their hearts? Many of the saints began their faith journey in humbler rooms than these, and God works in surprising and delightful ways. Is this doodler the next great artist that God will inspire? Is one of those boys an Aquinas or Rahner? Will one of the other children become an Oscar Romero or Mother Teresa?

I scanned the room that day and prayed. God opened my eyes to the gifts and the potential before me. God also gently reminded me that, like all the saints through the ages, I am but an instrument in God’s hands. There was no need for terror, and no need to feel alone. I smiled to myself, walked to the center of the room, and began my journey with these precious children of God.